WEEDS AND MEDICINAL
PLANTS OF SHAWAR VALLEY, DISTRICT SWAT

ABSTRACT

Shawar valley located on 350 07’ to 350 22’N and
720, 29’ to 720 39’E was analyzed for weeds as
will as medicinal plants. There are 49 weed plants, out of 49 weeds 30
plants are used as traditional medicines. Among these, 37 are herbs, 06
are shrubs, 03 are trees and 03 are climbers. In the primary health care
these folk medicinal plants have significant role for the inhabitants of
Shawar valley. Especially the people who can not afford allopathic drugs
are tempted to use of such medicinal plants.

Key Words:
Medicinal value, ethnobotany, Northwest Frontier Province.

INTRODUCTION

The valley of Shawar
lies in District Swat, Tehsil Matta in the Hindu Raj Mountains. It can
be traced at 350 07’to 350 22’ and 720,
29’ to 720, 39’ North latitude and East longitude,
respectively (Pers. Comm. Department of Geography, University of
Peshawar, Pakistan). The total area of the valley is 4877 ha, while the
total population of the valley is 20,163. Literacy rate is 12.6%; male
and female education at Matric level is 200 and 13 individuals,
respectively. The valley comes under the Sino Japanese Region (Ali and
Qaisar, 1986; and Robert et al., 1995). Geography of the valley
also shows that in the West it is bounded by Niage Dara (Dir), in the
North by Dir Kohistan, in the Northeast by Beha valley. Totano Banday
and Mian Kalay Biakand in the South of Tehsil Kabal and Tehsil Matta,
respectively.

The valley
comprises gently rolling topography in its Northern, Southern and
Western side. Southern hilly areas are gently sloping while the Northern
part moderately goes to high elevation. Precipitation is in the form of
rain, monsoon in summer and heavy snowfall in winter. The area
establishes west Himalayan moist types of forests (Beg and Khan, 1974).
The valley has Oak, Blue Pine, Fir and Spruce forests.

Its highest peak in the North is Landay Sir and Chota Sir having an
altitude of 2900 m and 3900 m above sea level, respectively while mean
altitude of the plain area is 1400m. Majority of the people residing in
the area are Yousafzai Pukhtoon associated with very limited population
of Sayed, Molla Khail and the hilly areas are inhabited by Gojer Khail.
Ninety-five percent (95%) people are involved in agriculture,
horticulture and cultivate their own farms while other five percent (5%)
are working aboard in the Middle Eastern countries.

Ethnobotanically, valley is rich in medicinal plants and most of the
people are using these plants as a primary source of health care. Among
these medicinal plants Acorus calamus used as stimulant, emetic,
carminative and as expectorant. Similarly Adatoda vasica, Dioscorea
deltoidea and Xantoxylumarmatum are used for different
diseases (Ur-Rahman, 1999; 2000; 2001). Hedra helix is common
liana plant and its leaves contain chromium, zinc and manganese which
are hypoglycemic trace elements, is reputed as a folk hypoglycemic
medicinal plant. It is also known that aqueous extract of Hedra helix
L. has significantly lowered the blood glucose level of alloxan_induced
diabetic rabbits and also plays an important role in blood metabolism (Ibrar,
1998; 2000). Annually a large number of medicinal plants are harvested
and bought by the local shopkeepers of the valley.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Geographical information
was obtained from the Department of Geography, University of Peshawar.
For plant collection, cutter, newspaper, vasculum, and altimeter were
taken. Plants were collected, pressed in newspapers with the help of
plant presser. On the spot, local name, locality and date of collection
were written. Papers were changed from time to time to absorb water from
plants. Plants were transferred to herbarium sheets of standard size 14//
and 16//. Plants were identified from the flora of Pakistan.

For knowing
the ethnobotanical profile of the people, a questionnaire was developed
and filled through interview randomly through different walks of life
i.e. farmers, Shop keepers involved in medicinal plants business, Hakims
and elders of the area. With the help of questionnaire, plant uses and
the indigenous knowledge regarding the traditional uses of plants was
collected. The knowledge thus extracted from local people regarding
their medicinal value has been tabulated in Table-1.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Present study is based
on 49 species among which 30 are medicinal plants, 25 are medicinal as
well as weeds and 19 are purely weeds belonging to different families
and representing Dicot, Monocot and Pteridophytes. Depending upon plant
habit, they were broadly divided into herbs, shrubs and trees.

Ethnobotanically some of the species reported here have multiple uses
e.g the delicious nuts of walnuts are edible, also used in culinary
preparation, fruits are mental tonic and also used as sexual tonic.
Leaves and bark used for teeth cleaning, flowers are used as antiseptic
while bark is used in tea factory for tea processing as dying agent.
Similarly Berberis lycium is used for jaundice, cooling agent,
used for ulcer, colic, aphrodisiac and its fruits are used by children
as sour food, hedge plant and used as fuel plants. So plants are natural
custodian natural chemical compound and used for multi purposes
(Table-1).

Table-1. Botanical names, local
names, parts used and local uses of plants of Shawar valley.

S.#

Botanical Name

Family
Name

Local/Eng. Name

Part
used

Manner of Local Uses

1

Acorus
calamus L.

Araceae

Skhawaja/Radix
acori

Rhizome

Rhizome
is powdered and very effective for constipation.

2

Adiantum venustum L.

Pteridaceae

Sumbal

Plant

Plants
are boiled and its decoction is used for coldness of body
temperature.

3

Ailanthus altissima
(Mill) Swingle.

Simarubaceae

Tora
Shandi

Leaves

i. Leaves
are kept in seed boxes to prevent attack of lice

ii. It is
used as anthelmintic and in dysentery.

4

Ajuga
bracteosa

Wall. ex
Bath.

Lamiaceae

Buti/
Kauri booti

Plant

i. Fresh
plant is powdered and its extract is used before dinner for
ulcer, colic and jaundice.

ii. Dry
powder is also used for above purpose.

5

A.
parviflora
Bath.

Lamiaceae

Buti /
Kauri booti

Plant

As above

6

Amaranthus caudatus L.

Amarantraceae

Chalwaii

Plant

i. It is
used as diuretic, blood purifier and antispasmodic.

7

Avena
fatua L.

Poaceae

Jamdar/
Oat

Seeds

Seeds are
nerve tonic, stimulant and laxative.

8

Berberis lycium Royal

Berberidaceae

Kwary/
Babaery

Roots,
Rhizome

Bark of
roots are removed, powdered and used for ulcer, colic.

ii. Used
for internal and external wounds

iii. Used
for body cooldness and also as a sexual tonic.

9

Bromus
japonicus Thumb ex
Murr

Poaceae

Jokai

Young
shoots

i. Young
shoots are used for diarrhea.

ii. whole
plant, in bundle are used for cleaning houses.

10

Cannabis sativa
L.

Cannabinaceae

Bhang/
Hemp- hang

Whole
plant

i. Plant
dried and burnt to protect the family members from bad
intentions of other people.

ii. It is
used as narcotic and stimulant.

11

Cedrela serrata Role

Melaceae

Skhawona

Plant

It is
used for decreasing gases pressure in cattle.

12

Cuscuta reflexa Roxb

Cuscutaceae

Jamaldarai/ Ghas bel

Plant

Used as
insecticide and antilice agent. Fodder.

13

Equisetum arvense L.

Equisetaceae

Bandakae/Horse
tail

Plant

Used as a
hair tonic.

14

Ficus
carica

Moraceae

Enzar/
Engeer

Milky
juice of leaves

i. Juice
is applied for extracting deep plant spines from feet. It
looses spines which easily come out from body.